Artificial tooth.



E. B. PBWELL.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, 1912.

1,078,844, Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Inventor WitnN Attorneys EVERETT B. FEWELL, OF MADISON, INDIANA.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Application filed October 26, 1912. Serial No. 727,967.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT B. FEWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Madison, in the county of Jefferson and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Artificial Tooth, of which the follow ingis a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in artificial teeth, theprimary object of the invention being the provision of a novel meanswhereby the metal support or backing for the tooth is properly shapedand placed in position either as a pivot or bridge previously to theattachment thereto of the porcelain front or facing of the tooth, thusavoiding the attendant cracking or breaking of such front or facing dueto the excessive heat necessary to the formation of the metal support orbacking.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anartificial tooth having a detachable front or facing secured fixedly tothe backing in a practical and durable manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the draWingsFigure 1 is a perspective View taken from the rear of thecomplete tooth. Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of a front or facingof the tooth. Fig. 3 is a rear plan View thereof. Fig. 4 is a verticalcentral sectional view through a complete tooth. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the lower front portion of the swaged metal insert. Figs. 6 and7 are detail views of the sleeve and rod used for connecting the facingto the backing.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the metal solderbacking, to which may be attached the usual pivot or bridge (not shown).

A sheet metal insert 2 is provided, the same being swaged as willpresently appear to provide the necessary co-acting attaching means forthe front or facing 3. The portion 1 is preferably made of a gold orother suitable solder while the insert 2 is sheet gold, platinum orother suitable metal, the front or facing 3 being made of porcelain orother similar material. The insert 2 is swaged or shaped to provide thedepression having the recessed portion 4 and the inclined lower lip 5terminating in the rim 5, which with the lower portion of the backing 1is upon the biting edge of the tooth when complete. Thus a metal bitingedge for the facing 3 of porcelain preferably is provided. The facing 3is therefore provided with an abutment 3 upon its rear face shaped tohave the upper lip or flange 6 fit into the recessed portion 4 of theinsert 2, its inclined faces 8 being coextensive with and abutting theinclined portions 7 of the insert 2 while the lateral wings 9 of theinsert 2 engage the flat portions 10 of the front 3. The lower lip 5engages the inclined lower face 12 of the facing 3, thus permitting thefacing 3 to seat closely against the insert 2 which is soldered to andcarried by the backing 1.

Thus the front is held against upward movementbut not against outwardmovement and it is therefore desirable and necessary that the lower endof the front be secured to the backing 1 and insert 2 in a fixedposition. In order to accomplish this a double diametered bore or socket13 is formed within the lower end and centrally of the front 3, thusproviding the shouldered portion 14 for the reception of the shortsleeve or tube 15, which is soldered to and carried by the insert 2,with a slight portion as at 15' projecting below the inclined face 5 ofthe insert. WVhen the parts are assembled the relatively thin lowerinclined edge 1 of the backing 1 is below the lip 5 of the insert 2 andsurrounds the lower end 15 of the tube 15 so that the extreme lower edgeof the tube is flush with the lower face of the backing. Thus the lowerend 15 forms a means to assist in looking the insert to the backing 1.

Driven through the lower open end of the tube 15 and having its upperend seated within the reduced end of the bore 13 is a securing pin 16,whose upper end is flattened as at 17 so as to provide a means to permitof the displacement of any cement that is placed within the bore, and sothat such cement will not interfere with the complete seating of thepin, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The lower end 18 of the pin isinclined so as to be flush with the surrounding portion of the sleeve 15and backing 1.

It is evident from the foregoing that any pressure upon the porcelainfacing will be taken care of by the shoulder 6 which locks with thebacking, and that the pin 16, being the last member to finish thelocking of the facing, may or may not be dipped into cement beforeforcing the pin home.

The lower end of the pin as before described is cut even with thesoldered backing and is preferably burnished, said pin serving only tolock the facing in place and withstand any pressure forwardly that mayoccur upon the facing. Should the facing be tipped, as herein shown, nosuch forward pressure will result but where the same is not tipped theremay be a very slight forward pressure.

These facings are indicated in posterior bridge teeth as well as theRichmond type crowns and also anterior bridge teeth.

The facings are also numbered and these numbers correspond. with similarnumbers stamped upon the backings, thus providing a means whereby thefacings may be readily fitted to their proper backings.

In this form of tooth no investing of the porcelain during the solderingprocess is necessary, thus avoiding the bad effect that the heat wouldhave upon the porcelain, while the complete tooth can be handledsimilarly to a pin tooth, the backing being made when necessary by thedentist by swaging out of pure gold.

Where the sleeve 15 is attached to the insert 2, the same is solderedand then re swaged-so that the same is placed for proper alinement withthe enlarged portion of the bore 13. The backing and tube are thenfilled with suitable investing material and soldered to the desiredthickness.

The lower edge of the porcelain facing being beveled, enables thedentist to metal tip the edge as heavy as may be desired to form a metalcutting edge for the tooth.

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial tooth having a metal backing, provided with adepression having a recessed portion at one end, a detachable facing forthe backing having an abutment for fitting the recessed portion and heldagainst movement in one direction thereby, and means for engaging thebacking and facing to lock the facing to the backing.

2. An artificial tooth having a metal backing provided with a depressionhaving a reccssed upper portion and an inclined lower portion forming abiting end, a sheet of metal lining the depression and adjacent face ofthe backing, a facing having an abutment for fitting co-extensively uponthe lining, and coacting means carried by the lining and facing forlocking the facing to the backing.

3. An artificial tooth having a metal backing provided with a depressionhaving a re cessed upper portion and an inclined lower portion forming abiting end, a sheet of metal lining the depression and adjacent face ofthe backing, a facing having an abutment for fitting co-extensively uponthe lining, a sleeve carried by the lining and engaging a portion of thebiting end of the backing, said facing being provided with a socket forthe reception of the sleeve, and a pin insertible through the sleeveinto the socket for securing the facing to the lining and backing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EVERETT B. FEWELL.

Witnesses SELINA \VILLsoN, RUTH SCOTT- .Gopies of this patent may beobtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,Washington, D. C.

